Guide for violin bows



' Nov. '17, 1925. 1,562,062

L. SCHMIDT GUIDE FOR VIOLIN BOWS Filed Jan. 22, 1925 Patented Nov. 17,1925.

UNITED STATES LILLY SCHMIDT, OF KLOTZSCHE, NEAR DRESDEIT, GERMANY.

GUIDE FOR VIOLIN BOWS.

Application filed January To all 207mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, LILLY Sornim'r, a citizen of the German Republic,residing at Klotzsche, near Dresden, Goethestrasse 10, Germany, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Guides for Violin Bows,of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is a guide for violin bows. Whenstarting to play a violin, viola or cello, beginners find it usuallyvery ditficult to learn how to draw a straight bow. In most cases thehow will be drawn so that it often passes beyond the bridge and over thestrings of the fretboard, while good playing requires that the bow doesnot only keep within the limits set by bridge and fret-board but isdrawn perfectly straight, i. e. in a direction running perpendicular tothat of the strings, and experiments made with the object of the presentinvention have shown that persons unskilled in the art of playing stringinstruments can easily learn how to draw a straight bow. I am aware ofthe fact that guides for violin bows have been invented consisting of aframe attached to the fret-board for the purpose of preventing the bowfrom passing over the strings beyond the fretboard, but the presentinvention aims chiefly at preventing the bow from slipping over thebridge. This is accomplished by placing a guard over the lower end ofthe tailpiece and attaching it by means of a clasp. This guard issuspended over the bridge without touching it. If, in addition, one ofthe known types of frames is pushed over the fretboard, the player willbe compelled to keep the bow within the space marked by the guard andframe. and the bow will be drawn perfectly straight whenever it comes incontact with one or the other of the two devices mentioned.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure 1 is a side view of the device attached to a violin; Fig.2, a View of the device as seen from above; Fig. 3, a sectional view onthe line (6-6 from 0, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line bclseen from 6, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a View in perspective of the guard tobe secured above the tail-piece.

1. is the violin with the bridge 2, the tailpiece 3 and the fret-board4. 5 are the strings arranged in the usual manner. Over the fret-board4. is pushed a frame 6 having 22, 1925. Serial No. 4,023.

a U-shaped cross section, and the inner edges 7 of the frame 6 hug thefret-board 4 so as to leave a free passage for the strings 8. Springaction due to the resiliency of the material of which the frame is madekeeps the latter above the finger board. 9 is the guard which isattached to the tail-piece by means of a clasp 10 and a press button 11in such a manner that the only point of connection between the guard 9and the tailpiece is formed by the fastening clasp 10, while thestiffened front part 12 is kept in suspended position above the strings5 and extends slightly across the bridge. The clasp 1.0 is attachedpermanently to guard 9 so that it is integral with the guard. Its rearend, which firmly grips and surrounds the tail-piece 3, prevents theguard from slipping out of place. Being very stiff and of such a lengthas to protrude over and beyond the bridge the guard is kept in suspendedposition above the bridge and strings.

Owing to this arrangement the strings are not touched either by theframe 6 or the guard 9, and the playing is not interfered with, While,on the other hand, straight drawing of the bow is ensured by arrangingguard 9 on one side and frame 6 on the other. The player is compelled todraw a straight bow as he cannot draw the bow beyond the bridge 2 orplay on the strings over the fret-board 4.

The working method of the device will be readily understood from whathas been said above. The guard. 9 is preferably made from celluloid orleather but any other suitable stiff material may be employed.

The guide can be used in connection with all sorts of string instrumentsby adapting it to the size of the particular instrument to which it isattached.

I claim A guide for violin bows consisting of a frame attached to thefinger-board and of a guard possessing great stiffness and being of sucha length as to protrude above and beyond the bridge: the said guardbeing placed over the lower end of the tail-piece and secured by meansof a clasp so as to be kept in suspended position above the bridge andstrings.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

LILLY SCHMIDT.

